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I put together your first and last paragraphs, because read together they're making me think we're talking past east other. I'll try to explain--maybe we can better isolate where we agree and disagree. First, I entirely agree with you that "DM decides" is an explicit part of the rules. The...

I agree that the rules are silent on that question. That was my point--it's a gap in the rules. :) I also agree that it isn't logically inconsistent to rule differently regarding different types of heavy obscurement to address gaps in the rules. But there are multiple ways to fill those...

Excellent synopsis! In terms of what that looks like at the table, in Combat-as-War games the parameters of the actual fights that occur (foes, location, etc.) tend to dynamically depend on the PCs' and NPCs' actions prior to the fight. If the PCs are doing well, then they're controlling who...

Two points: First, Combat-as-War can be played straight, with the enemies using all the same strategies and tactics as the PCs. In such a game, success depends on the PCs being extremely careful about not becoming a target for any individual or group that could crush them. There are multiple...

The gaps created by the non-comprehensive vision/light/obscurement rules are myriad: Can an observer see anything on the far side of something opaque? To use a previous example, can a dog see a bunny when the two are on opposite sides of opaque heavy obscurement? Does the answer change...

Fair enough. I'll rephrase my claim to make it more style-specific: in a game where dungeon inhabitants are proactive about responding to the PC's presence (whether that's a coordinated response, a chaotic response, or simply panic/flight), it's much harder to get six separate encounters on one...

I once ran a joke adventure in 3.5 that was specifically designed to cater to traditional tropes and D&D "traditions". It was originally going to be a one-shot, but was popular enough we turned it into a three-shot. It featured: Minimal backstory. The characters were trying to rescue a princess...

By "going beyond the text", I simply mean that the written rules aren't comprehensive enough to resolve issues relating to silhouettes and opaque objects. There are many ways to fill in the gaps in the rules, and it sounds like your approach works well and is consistent. :) I see the other...

At my table, when items are first acquired the party collectively decides who can put the item to best immediate use. If/when there is a chance to sell the item, and the party wants to sell, any PC can opt to pay that price to buy the item from the party. If multiple PCs want it, it goes to the...

That totally works. My point was that making it work requires going beyond the text, no matter what solution one prefers. :) I agree that a heavily obscured creature's location is known, if it is within hearing range. A silhouette revealing a creature's location can often be relevant at...

Thanks for clarifying! I was extrapolating from your response (IIRC) that you'd let a heavily obscured (by darkness) silhouette be visible against a broad, well-lit background, but would let the creature still benefit from being heavily obscured even though its location would be known by its...

To avoid the issue of wasted spells, I totally recommend taking a spammable utility spell or two that you would have fun casting in bulk at the end of the day. Sending takes the cake for mid-level slots: keep in touch with all your NPC contacts! But there are a bunch of great spells for...

Personally I find that kind of encounter both boring and frequently illogical if intelligent foes are involved. Why would an enemy with no chance try to fight? Sure, for the first round they might be overconfident, but with that kind of power disparity, their looming demise quickly becomes...

It takes a skilled party (or mindless foes) to have six separate encounters on a dungeon level, especially with the ability to take two one-hour breaks in-between. If the party screws up at all and their presence is noticed, the logical consequence is two encounters: the first encounter, and...

My issue with short and long rests is that having two types of rests changes pacing from a one-variable balancing act (encounters per day) into a three-variable balancing act (encounters per short rest, encounters per long rest, and short rests per long rest). (Normally that would only be two...

(Note: I'm going to be discussing my understanding of other poster's previously expressed rulings in this post. If I have misinterpreted how you would rule, please let me know so that I can better understand your perspective.) The current turn in the conversation relates back to the point I...

I think the "dark blob" approach works too, although I'd also note that nothing in the spell description suggests the spell does this. Still, it's a decent way to run it if you want transparent darkness. Balance-wise, however, it (and other transparent darkness interpretations that give full...

The opaque inkblot version is fantastic to use to buff defenders behind crenellations (or any low cover) if the approaching enemy is both close enough to locate by hearing and does not have access to cover. On their turns each defender stands up from prone, shoots at an enemy whose position they...

I don't think the opaque interpretation requires bending the rules or bending the fiction. That's why I think it's the better interpretation. :) At most you have to read the whole spell text in the context of the opaque interpretation, so that it makes sense that darkvision is called out as...

Note that the rules text for Heavy Obscurement doesn't say "effective blind". It says "effectively suffers from the Blinded condition". And the Blinded condition itself has two effects: "Effectively suffers from the blinded condition" doesn't mean that the creature suffers a reduced set of...